Korean war POW honored at dual events

As a prisoner of war in Korea in 1950, Carl J. Bafs memorized hundreds, maybe thousands, of names of fellow prisoners while enduring conditions such as eating flies to survive.

By Andy FillmoreCorrespondent

As a prisoner of war in Korea in 1950, Carl J. Bafs memorized hundreds, maybe thousands, of names of fellow prisoners while enduring conditions such as eating flies to survive.

According to family members, Bafs was captured by enemy troops around 1950 above the 38th Parallel. He was spared from being killed by machine gun fire when a comrade cut the tarp on the vehicle they were being transported in and they fled.

Bafs later was recaptured and when the enemy soldiers saw the red cross on his helmet, signifying he was a medic, they thought he might be able to lead them to medical supplies, which possibly saved his life. He was released in a 1953 POW exchange.

“My uncle had to eat flies to stay alive as a POW,” said Brian Bafs, who attended a family service at Roberts Funeral Home in Ocala on Monday, followed by a service at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell with full military honors.

Carl Bafs, 82, a resident of Silver Springs Shores since he relocated here from Michigan more than 20 years ago after retiring from the Postal Service., died Aug. 16. He was a veteran of the Army.

Edrys Bafs Jansen, the sister of Brian Bafs, said her uncle accomplished the amazing feat of memorizing the names of “at least hundreds” of fellow POW’s at several surrounding camps and gave that information to American authorities.

On Monday, POW/MIA advocacy groups Honor, Release, Return; Rolling Thunder members from chapters as far away as Jacksonville and Palm Bay; Patriot Guard Riders; and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8083 in Belleview helped provide the military honors for Bafs, which included a reading of “The Soldier’s Creed,” a 21-gun salute, presentation of a ceremoniously folded flag to the family, and taps.

Patriot Guard Riders stood at attention and formed two flag lines at the funeral home and the national cemetery. All three groups provided an escort of motorcycles, cars and trucks for the 50-mile trip to Bushnell. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office Funeral Escort went as far as the county line.

Brian Bafs, Edrys Jansen, her husband, Ronald, and other family members came from Michigan for the services.

“The show of patriotism here for my uncle has been phenomenal. It’s incredible to witness the dedication of these groups,” Edrys Jansen, 60, said.

“I can’t believe anyone cares, especially after all this time,” she said, wiping away tears as she glanced at the casket, surrounded by a sea of red, white and blue. “My uncle knew of the military honors. He would have liked it.”

Edward Bafs, Edrys and Brian’s father, was Carl Bafs’ elder brother. Brian Baf said Carl was raised as a foster child and then worked on a farm.

“At age 17 he sought out his birth mother and asked her to sign papers so he could join the Army. He went practically from foster childhood to being a POW,” Brian Bafs said.

“My uncle became more involved in the POW issue in later years, especially since he retired,” Edrys Jansen said.

Family friends and also wives of Korean War POW’s, Joann Fox of Leesburg and Nelda Young of Tavares attended both services. The women described meetings among their husbands and Carl Bafs as the men recalled their war experiences.

“Joann and I continue to participate in the POW events,” said Young, whose husband, Denny, died about three years ago.

Kathryn McLaughlin, who rode a Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster to both events Monday, is a board member of The Ride Home, a nonprofit group that hosts an annual event honoring former POWs and families of MIA soldiers on the third Friday in September at the National POW Museum in Andersonville, Ga. McLaughlin, Florida state liaison for Honor, Release, Return, formerly known as Rolling Thunder Chapter 6, said she met Carl Bafs at the 2009 Ride Home event and that he was looking forward to the event this year.

She said Bafs “didn’t like to talk about being a POW because he would tear up and it was difficult to talk about. Carl called me the ‘POW Lady.’ We loved him.”

At the close of the ceremony in Bushnell, Honor, Release and Return member Doris Ingersoll gave Ride Home armbands to Fox and Young, who placed them on Baf’s casket. The two women then shook hands with the 34 flag bearers paying tribute to the honored soldier.